The industrial synthesis of chemical products is currently based on the oxidation of fossil compounds. In the current context of energy transition and reduction of the dependence on petroleum products, new ways of carbon sources must be used to maintain the production of these compounds essential to our societies. CO2 is a good candidate, but is not very reactive. Its conversion into CO, coupled with the production of H2 by electrolysis, allows the formation of syngas (CO:H2 mixture) which is a reactive gas allowing the synthesis of numerous chemical products, among others thanks to the Fisher-Tropsch process.

We propose in this thesis project to design new catalysts for the synthesis of alkylamines by Fisher-Tropsch reaction on amines, using syngas from renewable sources. The PhD student will search for new catalysts, optimize them, testing them in the Fisher-Tropsch reaction on amines. The objective will be to have a catalyst that is efficient, selective, and not very sensitive to contaminants such as O2 or H2O. Once this system is optimized, the catalyst will be tested in devices to be designed and built, allowing the use of real syngas supplied by other groups at CEA, formed by gasification of biomass for example.